蜜桃视频

Jimena McCall, an occupational therapy student at 蜜桃视频, recently got to work with Game Changers in Peru where she was able to provide new opportunities for kids with disabilities through sports and community engagement. Game Changers, a nonprofit organization  in Boise, ID, provides sports for children of all abilities. Working in collaboration with the Free Wheelchair Mission, Game Changers organized a jog-a-thon event to fundraise for new wheelchairs that Jimena and the Game Changers team brought to Iquitos, Peru. For McCall, the event stood out as a lively and inviting way for children and their families to take part in their communities. The initiative brought a lot of joy to the participants and helped to create a meaningful connection between children in the U.S. and those in need abroad.

McCall and the Game Changers Director, Gabriel Moreno, brought thirty-two volunteers with them to Peru. In addition to the jog-a-thon event, 蜜桃视频 volunteers working with Game Changers led a soccer program for children with disabilities in Lima, Peru, which helped to fund more wheelchairs for those in need in Iquitos. The volunteers assembled the wheelchairs and ensured that each one was properly fitted to fit the recipients needs. Children with disabilities rarely get the opportunity to serve others, which is why Game Changers works to organize these events. A core belief of Game Changers,  McCall says, is “that every person can contribute if they are given the opportunity to help”. Through organizations like Game Changers, children with disabilities are able to engage with their communities in fun and rewarding ways.

Amy Haynes, a professor of Occupational Therapy at 蜜桃视频, has enjoyed supporting McCall in her efforts.  Together, they organized a Move for Mobility fundraiser for the purchase of wheelchairs, which involved many of the Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy students from ISU. This fundraiser brought in $10,900 to support a local initiative called 蜜桃视频 Believes, run by retired OT George Hage.  This event brought together several local organizations and had almost 100 participants, moving together to eventually purchase one wheelchair for every seat in the Albertsons Stadium.

Student involvement is a crucial component of community involvement, as  McCall demonstrated through her work with Game Changers. Through the knowledge and skills gained through her program at ISU, McCall was able to engage with her community in a way that felt rewarding. As ISU’s occupational therapy students regularly become involved with their communities to make a positive impact, they demonstrate their leadership skills and commitment to excellence. Through their involvement, they become the pillars of their community.

The continued collaboration of organizations like Game Changers and the Free Wheelchair Mission could continue to have a positive impact on a global scale. Occupational therapists play a crucial role in the organization and function of these events, but so does the support of the community. Through sports and communal engagement, families with disabilities received support and children were given new opportunities to connect and spread joy.